Frugaleers chatting and saving into August...

[ipsogenix]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

Useful links copied from last year:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

I've got almost £200 pending on topcashback and could really do with it. It's been four months now

£16.49 on train, £20 on lunch. Dd going for a sleepover later do taking ds to cinema but got nectar/ vue cinema voucher for 2 of us

My mum treated us to a pub lunch before she left half an hour ago. I love her, but my goodness, she exhausts me. Phew! I had to give her 30 pence towards her bus fare (as she didn't make sure she got enough change when she paid for lunch), but other than that, an NSD.

I am another one who's fed up of waiting for cash back.

And now my kettle is broken. £20-30 unbudgetted on a new one.

Back from dds hospital appointment, was o.kay the Dr basically said we will never know why dd was so ill with flu and it shouldn't happen again but to be on the safe side she will recommend dd has the flu spray/jab every year!

Today has been spendy'ish in the end as Scottish Power took another £24 off me this morning to close the account at my old flat, spent £8 in the m&s cafe at the hospital mostly due to me being a greedy bugger and stuffing my face on cake £3.80 parking and £40 petrol.

Am trying to get through to Redrow now as realised the other day my new house was meant to come with a water butt and I haven't got one

Hmm, sounds like a rather unsatisfying hospital appt!

So do I complain/flag up the lack of cashback, or is it that it's just taking longer than usual? Although I don't see how that could happen with the Haven thing as it's tracked, just the wrong %.

£7 here on top ups milk/coffee - the guys doing our garden are working their backsides off and drinking gallons of coffee!
Also got £10 cash out to use until Monday on any little spends.

Sorry your hospital appointment was frustrating girlie - at least there was cake? Welcome yummy!

girlie it's a good job you noticed. When your water butt arrives it should be connected to the guttering. When it's all done fill in this form form.wessexwater.co.uk/SurfaceWaterDrainageAllowance/ and you shouldn't have to pay for drainage. I can't remember how much we saved but it was useful at the time £20 I think!

Spent 11p in pennies on a flump for DS.

Sorry I posted on previous thread.
Hi,
Ideas please...i have just paid my last ever childcare bill this month £650.
So what shall I do with a spare 650 pounds each month. I wanted to save it in a shares ISA and the buy something big, like a caravan for holiday next year.
DH wants to save for a car. Or should we pay off debt (£15,000).
Or we could spend more on luxury treats each month?
Not sure.

Welcome yummy and all I'm just about to re-start the journey of hefty childcare bills. Our long- term plan is to use the £800+pm to overpay on mortgage when we finally don't have to pay it (5 years time!)

Girlie the hospital app sounds reassuring. I was amazed at my last hospital visit to see a costa and an M&S simply food - it felt more like an airport!

Tuesday and Wednesday were NSD days and I haven't spent anything so far today but I am going out for coffee and cake this evening so will be a LSD.

Ipsos Thank you

Allthebest Pay the debt off, then you can save. It makes more sense than buying a depreciating asset like a car or having savings paying negligible interest.

Girlie Did you ask if your house has a soakaway? Lots of newbuilds do because it's in local building regs.

£50 nail tech stuff.
£1 podiatry stuff
75p madras powder.

£3 homebargains.

Took sandals back, £15 credit note for marks.

Ooh cross post with collie 🙈

Yes am def going to look into the soak away, its on my to do list. Wasn't able to speak to anyone at Redrow which was annoying, will try again tomos, its funny how being on a water meter makes you think about every drop of water you use!

Made banana muffins this afternoon, they look delicious

Welcome newbies! :)

I agree, definitely attack the debt with the childcare money. I would perhaps plan on using say 75-90% of it for that, as I'm assuming the costs are ending because your (youngest?) DC is starting school, and there'll be associated costs with that like uniforms, trips and all that stuff, so it may be wise to put money aside for that?

Thanks for the new thread ipso .

all, I think you should pay off your debts as well (after you've saved an emergency buffer if you don't already have one). Do you need a new car?

Regarding childcare costs, keeping some aside is a good idea as dd will need to go to breakfast club.
We have £6000 saved already as a buffer. The debt is on a really low interest payment 2.8% so wasn't that bothered. But paying it off sooner should be a priority.
DH wants to get rid of company car as he gets taxed loads on it and just get his own car. He gets a fuel card so don't need to pay for diesel.
I'm a teacher so get long holidays and thought a caravan would be cheaper and better than saving for just 2 weeks away. As I could go away with DD for longer and DH can join us for long weekends and his summer hol.
Oh I think ive been thinking too much!

I agree too. Pay off the debt.

Damn you're right, pay debt off first, another year without a holiday won't matter .
But at least there's an end in sight!
Off to park tomorrow for a kids party so a nsd.

Welcome all! I can't wait for the day that nursery fees stop - got a few more years yet though Another one here saying pay more off the debt, even if it's just say £400 a month, and keep the rest for other savings/expenses?

Oops! X-post!

all

You need to think carefully about caravans and tow bars. Dh is motor trade and a safely fitted tow bar that communicates with the car is circa £1000.

Less pricey makes won't be as much but you need to think about it. Of course dodgy Dave will fit one for £200 but is it safe? & covered on the insurance?.

Once you've paid off that debt put £650 Into the moneysaving expert mortgage overpayment calculator. It really motivates you to overpay.

I really need/want the motivation to use the money wisely. We were paying £800 a month but the the 15hrs kicked in.
Thanks for advice about tow bars, I didn't realise.
I suppose once debt is paid that will free up another £250 each month.
Off to write a plan of action.

Welcome new people.
Pay off the debt camp here too.
£18 at the cinema for 3 of us to watch the bfg.. twas good.
The hospital appointment sounds a bit of an anti climax, but better news than it could have been.
Flag up the cash back cag as there are time limits on claiming. Also check the haven one, sometimes the track lower until paid but usually say at the time so defo check

Thanks for the new thread Ipsos and all the links.
Welcome newbys.
LSD today, just £1 for tea but DGD persuaded me to pay for the postage on some Harry Potter Lego she ordered on eBay. She gave me the money she had saved up for the Lego and I said I would cover the postage. So £4 in total
We are finally off to the National Space Centre in Leicester tomorrow. I have already paid but I bet the shop will be very inviting and expensive. So expecting tomorrow to be spendy.
Foraged with DGD for more wood for wood burning stove in winter and put some more veg in freezer for winter.

Blimey Life, I have just booked 2 tickets for BFF on Sunday and it cost £20. You got a bargain.